Why Deion Sanders Should Continue Joint Spring Game Push Despite Second Rejection

An NCAA spokesperson told USA Today Sports that the Division I FBS oversight committee "didn't want to approve outside competition in the spring without a more complete review of the calendar.”

Fortunately for Colorado, Syracuse and other interested programs, the NCAA will keep the joint spring game idea on the table moving forward.

"The subgroup may consider joint practice concepts during its review of the spring practice period and consult other governance committees that may be impacted by a concept," the NCAA's written rationale to Colorado said, per USA Today Sports. "Based on feedback from the membership and other impacted governance committees, the subgroup may consider legislation that would permit any institution to engage in a joint practice."

Both Sanders and Syracuse coach Fran Brown had been cautiously optimistic about a joint spring game being approved, but they'll have to wait at least another year.

“We were trying to get a spring game to play against each other,” Brown said on "The Rich Eisen Show" in September. “I think it’s going to go through next year, possibly. There’ll be a chance."

Deion Sanders' Push For a Joint Spring Game

In partial response to several other programs either canceling or altering their spring games, Sanders first floated the idea of a joint spring game last March. NFL teams have long practiced against each other, and it's likely only a matter of time before the NCAA approves joint practices among FBS programs.

"The way the trend is going is, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game," Sanders said last March. "Now, I don't believe in that, and I don't really want to condone that... To have it competitive, and to play against your own guys, it can get kind of monotonous, and you really can't tell the level of your guys."

Considering the lack of excitement surrounding the current spring football format, Sanders' idea could breathe new life into the sport's offseason and maintain fan involvement. Colorado's spring game attendance has declined each of the past two years, but bringing in an opponent would likely boost fans' interest.

Even more, Colorado cited injury prevention as a reason the oversight committee should approve joint practices. Instead of 22 players from the same team on the field together, a joint practice would allow for 11-on-11 sessions.

While the NCAA hasn't exactly cooperated, Sanders should make every effort to continue putting pressure on the oversight committee to approve a joint spring game.